Amidst their ONE MAN JAPAN TOUR 2025, coldrain unleashed their fifth Extended Play, OPTIMIZE. The five-track collection dropped on October 24 and marks the band’s debut release under German label Century Media Records.

Before the full release, the band released singles INCOMPLETE, CHASING SHADOWS, and FREE FALL. German fans were privileged to hear CHASING SHADOWS live at Summer Breeze Open Air Festival this August. You can see the live performance below:

The EP starts with the track that lends its name to the collection, OPTIMIZE. With an instrumental intro that creates anticipation, the track is quickly filled with emotive voices, delivering powerful lyrics that urge us to be free from “artificial reality”.

Building on that momentum, CHASING SHADOWS goes a step further with surprising choral backing vocals. The high-paced song also conveys a fierce yet hopeful message that compels us to seek more.

A crucial dynamic change occurs with DIGITOLL, which shifts the focus to a more electronic soundscape, but continues to question a system that forces conformity.

INCOMPLETE and FREE FALL close the EP with the best of coldrain: two epic, fiery tracks led by vocalist Masato’s melodic vocals, supported by growls and harsh vocals. At the end, FREE FALL‘s outro gives you that classic concert feeling: exhilarated, but already craving another dose of coldrain’s thunderous sound.

Taken as a whole, the EP is a journey with compelling lyrics that can show new listeners why coldrain have been present in the rock scene for so many years.

For more information on coldrain’s upcoming tour, starting this November in the UK and Europe, check the tour table below.

OPTIMIZE

OTOTOY

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1. OPTIMIZE
2. CHASING SHADOWS
3. DIGITOLL
4. INCOMPLETE
5. FREE FALL